Sourcing Crospovidone from China
Crospovidone from China has 0% UK duty on the relevant other-vinyl-polymer line; the wider heading ranges from 0% to 6%. Confirm the UK REACH registration position for the polymer and monomers with HSE. Specify the excipient grade and verify each batch before use. Cambridge China Bridge sources crospovidone.
Crospovidone: 0% duty on the relevant line
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 3905 covers vinyl acetate and other vinyl polymers in primary forms. For unmodified crospovidone powder, confirm the residual other-vinyl-polymer code 3905 99 90 99. The table shows buying specifications under the same candidate tariff line, rather than separate tariff subdivisions. For related polymers, see polyvinylpyrrolidone resin.
Goods from China under this line carry 0% duty, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no listed suspension. The tariff attaches import and export waste controls. If material from China is waste entering England under notification controls, the exporter must apply to the competent authority in China for consent. Confirm the applicable waste requirements with your customs broker, including before returning rejected stock.
Give your broker the composition, powder form, additives and intended use to confirm the commodity code. Do not select a neighbouring line merely because its description includes povidone. For the illustrative order, the FOB value and freight are hypothetical inputs, not a supplier quotation. See UK import duty and VAT for the calculation method.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crospovidone powder, pharmaceutical excipient grade | 3905 99 90 99 | 0% | None |
Specify the crospovidone grade and batch tests
Specify cross-linked, insoluble polyvinylpyrrolidone, the intended formulation and the agreed pharmacopoeial specification where relevant. Ask for particle-size distribution, moisture, soluble substances, residual monomer, peroxide results and microbiological results against agreed acceptance criteria. Require actual batch results and test methods, rather than a generic statement that the grade complies.
Agree the manufacturing site, batch traceability, change notification, storage conditions and moisture-resistant inner packaging. Test the proposed grade in your formulation for wetting, swelling and tablet disintegration before approving bulk supply. Use testing and certification support to define the laboratory brief.
Confirm with HSE the UK REACH registration requirements or exemptions applicable to the polymer and monomers. Ask HSE to confirm the applicable chemical safety data, classification, labelling and packaging requirements. For unlicensed medicines known as specials, MHRA guidance recommends a supplier and starting-material qualification programme based on risk assessment. Agree the supporting evidence with the medicine manufacturer before purchasing.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative pilot-production consignment of crospovidone in sealed drums under 3905 99 90 99, invoiced at £18,000 free on board, with £1,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £19,500. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £19,500, so it is £3,900. With no duty, the only import tax is the VAT, which a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Identity: check that the delivered material is insoluble, cross-linked crospovidone matching the approved sample and specification.
Batch analysis: match the certificate to the drum labels and independently check agreed identity, moisture, particle-size and impurity tests.
Packing: check inner liners, seals, dampness, foreign matter, caking and consistency between containers.
Formulation performance: compare wetting and disintegration with the approved trial batch, retaining labelled samples for investigation.
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What goes wrong
Orders can fail when soluble povidone is substituted, the particle-size grade changes, powder becomes damp or the certificate belongs to another batch. A matching product name does not establish equivalent formulation performance. Unagreed peroxide or microbiological results can also make a batch unsuitable for the buyer's intended use.
Hold suspect stock apart and investigate against retained samples, batch records and independent results before release. Agree replacement and investigation responsibilities in the purchase order. See quality inspection explained for organising checks.
Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For repeat volumes, see container programmes.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on crospovidone from China?
The supplied tariff facts show 0% under candidate code 3905 99 90 99, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no listed suspension. Confirm the code for your composition.
Does crospovidone need UK REACH registration?
Ask HSE to confirm the registration requirements or exemptions applicable to the polymer and monomers. Check the composition and your importer position.
What should I request with a crospovidone sample?
Request the grade specification, batch certificate, test methods, particle-size distribution, moisture and impurity results. Trial it in your own formulation before approving supply.
Can I accept crospovidone on its certificate alone?
Agree incoming tests and formulation trials rather than relying only on a certificate. Match the certificate to the delivered batch and investigate discrepancies before release.